Billiard characterization of spheres

DOI10.1007/S00208-019-01831-6MaRDI QIDQ2314797zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Misha Bialy

Publication date 30 July 2019

Published in Mathematische Annalen (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1807.07712

zbMATH Keywords

billiardsconvex bodies

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Dynamical systems with singularities (billiards, etc.) (37C83) Relations of finite-dimensional Hamiltonian and Lagrangian systems with topology, geometry and differential geometry (symplectic geometry, Poisson geometry, etc.) (37J39) Lattices and convex bodies in (n) dimensions (aspects of discrete geometry) (52C07)

Abstract: In this note we study the higher dimensional convex billiards satisfying the so-called Gutkin property. A convex hypersurface $S$ satisfies this property if any chord $[p,q]$ which forms angle $delta$ with the tangent hyperplane at $p$ has the same angle $delta$ with the tangent hyperplane at $q$. Our main result is that the only convex hypersurface with this property in $mathbf{R}^d,dgeq3$ is a round sphere. This extends previous results on Gutkin billiards obtained in cite{B0}.

Review text

This paper generalizes the result that the author obtained in [Nonlinearity 31, No. 5, 2281--2293 (2018; Zbl 1391.37031)] from \(d=3\) to \(d>3\). The main finding is that the sphere is the only convex billiard satisfying the so-called Gutkin property. The new tools in this paper are essentially Lemma 3.3 and Lemma 3.4, which explore the geometry of convex bodies of constant width. Then by using some symplectic geometry, the author obtains the desired results.

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Cites work

• A Characterization of the Ball in R 3
• Addendum to: ``Capillary floating and the billiard ball problem
• Capillary floating and the billiard ball problem
• Gutkin billiard tables in higher dimensions and rigidity
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• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4022030 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 780179 (Why is no real title available?)
• Maximizing orbits for higher-dimensional convex billiards
• Only ellipsoids have caustics
• Seules les quadriques admettent des caustiques
• Topology of cylic configuration spaces and periodic trajectories of multi-dimensional billiards

Cited in

(4)

• Normal modes of billiards portrayed in the stellar (or nodal) representation
• On commuting billiards in higher-dimensional spaces of constant curvature
• Magnetic billiards: non-integrability for strong magnetic field; Gutkin type examples
• Gutkin billiard tables in higher dimensions and rigidity

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